"but the righteous will live by faith" comes from Habakkuk 2:4, one of my favourite minor prophets. It is also a verse quoted on several occasions in the New Testament: Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 11:38. Yet superficially the New Testament seems to use it in a different way to the way it is used in the Old Testament. So is this the case or not?In Romans 1:17 Paul writes
“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed - a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, as it is written “The righteous will live by faith”.
Now in Romans Paul gives his most eloquent and complete exposition of salvation by faith, but superficially that does not seem to be what Habakkuk is talking about. Habakkuk is concerned about the immediate political situation (the unrighteousness of Judah, and the impending Babylonian conquest). So is Paul taking things out of context and just using a useful phrase because it fits his argument (a common trick used by some preachers!) Not at all. First, Habakkuk most definitely is concerned about sin, his first complaint is concerned about the sin in Judah. Secondly, we make a mistake when we divorce “life situation trust” and “theological salvation”. Ie trusting God in a particular situation, and having a theological understanding of how a holy God can possibly bless a hopelessly sinful people. The Bible never does this. If we look at the gospels in particular we see many people who came to Jesus in faith. They all received help, Jesus often commended their faith, and on several occasions He specifically said their sins were forgiven. Yet not one of them made a “prayer of salvation” or recited the “four spiritual laws”. “Life faith” and “theological faith” are not two alternative routes, and are definitely not contradictory, they go together. The fundamental change in a person is their willingness to trust in God. The reality of this faith, this trust, will show itself in our trusting God in real life circumstances, just as it did for the people in the gospels. The theology explains how God can possible bless us. But the theological understanding of salvation is also of great practical importance. For the theological understanding is based on the infinite love of God for us, and on how that love has shown itself in action in sending His Son, and has achieved concrete results through the cross and resurrection. So the better we understand the “theology” of salvation the better we will know God, His heart and love for us, and this will make us better able to trust Him in life-circumstances. The two go together, and the New Testament use of Habakkuk 2:4 is entirely consistent with its use in the Old Testament.
“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed - a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, as it is written “The righteous will live by faith”.
Now in Romans Paul gives his most eloquent and complete exposition of salvation by faith, but superficially that does not seem to be what Habakkuk is talking about. Habakkuk is concerned about the immediate political situation (the unrighteousness of Judah, and the impending Babylonian conquest). So is Paul taking things out of context and just using a useful phrase because it fits his argument (a common trick used by some preachers!) Not at all. First, Habakkuk most definitely is concerned about sin, his first complaint is concerned about the sin in Judah. Secondly, we make a mistake when we divorce “life situation trust” and “theological salvation”. Ie trusting God in a particular situation, and having a theological understanding of how a holy God can possibly bless a hopelessly sinful people. The Bible never does this. If we look at the gospels in particular we see many people who came to Jesus in faith. They all received help, Jesus often commended their faith, and on several occasions He specifically said their sins were forgiven. Yet not one of them made a “prayer of salvation” or recited the “four spiritual laws”. “Life faith” and “theological faith” are not two alternative routes, and are definitely not contradictory, they go together. The fundamental change in a person is their willingness to trust in God. The reality of this faith, this trust, will show itself in our trusting God in real life circumstances, just as it did for the people in the gospels. The theology explains how God can possible bless us. But the theological understanding of salvation is also of great practical importance. For the theological understanding is based on the infinite love of God for us, and on how that love has shown itself in action in sending His Son, and has achieved concrete results through the cross and resurrection. So the better we understand the “theology” of salvation the better we will know God, His heart and love for us, and this will make us better able to trust Him in life-circumstances. The two go together, and the New Testament use of Habakkuk 2:4 is entirely consistent with its use in the Old Testament.
No comments:
Post a Comment